More men practise Yoga than you think. In fact, most classes, in the US, are about 30 – 50% men, because Yoga has a lot to offer men. Initially, it may be harder for men to start owing to the male stereotypes in society.
Theoretically speaking, men are stronger and more goal-oriented than women, and identify more physically and mentally with sports. However, what many men find is that the stereotype of a strong, independent male is rather isolating; it doesn't always work. Men start to look inside and move towards relationships with themselves and others.
Yoga, what most people don’t know, is all about relationships: between the body and the breath, between the muscles and the skeletal structure, between the physical self and emotions, the mind and body, oneself and one’s community. Yoga provides men chance to stop and listen to own their inner voices. Yoga helps men perform chosen competitive sports better. All sports have their own vocabulary and you may find it tough to translate the unique language of one sport into another way of moving. For instance if you've trained for years to be a gymnast, your body will respond in a particular way. Some muscles will always be contracted; others loose. Your body arranges certain neurological and neuromuscular patterns – they stay the same and serve you in that particular sport. You breathe in a particular way, move a particular way. Oftentimes you hurt the same muscles or ligaments the same way. Yoga returns the body to balance, to its natural alignment. With its full spectrum of poses – forward bending, backward bending, supine, prone, inverted – Yoga shows you where your imbalances and physical weaknesses are and helps strengthen your body. Yoga improves athletic performance by teaching sportsmen to breathe correctly, to relax and to gain flexibility. If you’re interested in Yoga but don't know how to begin. Starting at a Yoga class in a health club is a good way to begin. But, never get discouraged. Since most men tend to be competitive and have used their bodies, at some point of time or other, coming suddenly into a yoga class where everyone can do the poses so much better than they can makes them start to compare themselves to everyone else. This sometimes makes them feel absolutely humiliated. Oftentimes, their first inclination could be to quit. However, continuing will not Just be good for your body –it will give you strength, flexibility, and balance – but also for balancing your mind and emotions. Remember, it's good to come up against obstacles, to face up to your weaknesses. Because, is only in doing that, you begin to understand who you are. Further, you start to develop a sense of compassion for others and acceptance of yourself.
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